In Mingxi’s eyes, Princess Regina’s schemes were unfathomable!

She was no less shrewd than the Regent who held actual power in Light Patrol Country.

Therefore, Mingxi did not dare to be careless and seek a tiger’s skin, lest she end up shattered before getting the skin.

...

The Starsea Cup was in full swing.

Mingxi’s ‘good luck’ in the draws remained consistently stable; whether in singles or doubles, her opponents in both the preliminary and knockout rounds were, without exception, powerful competitors.

In the singles knockout round, she directly faced Kunlimu, an SSS-level Beast Master from Green Field Star, who was one of the top eight from the previous competition and the number one seed for Green Field Star in this year’s singles event.

This match also marked Xue Qingting’s first official appearance as Mingxi’s pet.

Ultimately, Xue Qingting turned the tide, achieving the incredible feat of a one-versus-three comeback when Mingxi was trailing Kunlimu by a significant score of 0:2.

This allowed Mingxi to bypass the resurrection round and successfully enter the group stage.

Xue Qingting’s performance also officially introduced this unprecedented collective pet to the public’s view.

Nansaluo Xue Qingting, Mingxi’s eighth pet!

It became incredibly popular!

Its fan count skyrocketed, rapidly approaching that of the popular Golden Yuanbao and Little Silver Flower.

And Bright Crystal, unsurprisingly, ended up at the bottom.

(っ｀ω´っ*)

(っ´;ω;`с)

It was time for Mingxi to comfort her fierce cub again, and eventually, the inconsolable Bright Crystal forced her to sign an unequal treaty that sacrificed its rights and humiliated her—to let Bright Crystal appear as much as possible in the upcoming group stage.

It felt that its low popularity was because it hadn’t displayed its true strength and unique charm during the matches.

So, it wanted to perform more, striving to step on Little Silver Flower and crush Golden Yuanbao as soon as possible!

Actually, the popularity gap between Mingxi and her eight pets wasn’t significant; Bright Crystal’s loss was simply due to a lack of a loyal group of fans who admired its appearance.

There was nothing to be done; appearance was naturally given by parents, and even evolution couldn’t solve the problem.

There were still three days of resurrection matches before the group stage points competition, which didn't concern Mingxi, but to better understand her opponents, she had originally planned to stay at the arena.

However, after waiting for several days without any reply, Princess Regina finally couldn't hold back.

On the afternoon of the first day of the resurrection matches, Mingxi was entering the restroom with Little Silver Flower.

Spatial power silently spread.

A slender figure, as if merging with the shadows, quietly appeared in the corner of the room—it was Princess Regina von Augustus, having shed her disguise and dressed in a simple black robe, yet unable to conceal her noble temperament.

“Good afternoon, Your Excellency Mingxi.”

Regina’s voice was low and clear, truly no different from the one that night.

“Your Excellency, how have you considered the matter I brought up?”

Mingxi looked at the composed woman before her, her eyes curving into a smile as she asked, “Your Royal Highness, what matter did you bring up?”

The one who came to see her that day was the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) substitute, not the real princess.

She wasn't so foolish as to believe that the substitute’s words and actions could represent Princess Regina.

In a Transcendent world, sincerity is often a trick; only rules win my heart.

Regina’s eyes narrowed slightly; indeed, this young girl couldn’t be treated as an ordinary youngster—she was a cunning, mischievous monster!

She felt a bit helpless.

She had originally intended to use the interchangeability between herself and the substitute to obscure and deceive Mingxi as much as possible, to trick her if she could. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

After all, the Mystic Ground was the vast wealth accumulated by their Augus Royal Family over nearly a thousand years; it truly pained her to hand it over to someone else.

Now, it seemed she had been naive.

How could someone who reached the pinnacle of Beast Tamers at the young age of 16 be simple and easily fooled?

Regina knew what was important and was decisive and intelligent enough; for her now, the Light Patrol Throne was the most crucial thing. As for the rest... external possessions, once she ascended the throne, how many could she not acquire?

Regina had ambition and strategy.

With just a simple conversation, she understood the gains and losses, immediately put away her schemes, and frankly stated her purpose.

She repeated the request made by the substitute and the benefits promised to Mingxi.

As a sign of sincerity.

“I can sign an agreement with Your Excellency through your country’s Wanlv Town Town.”

Cooperating with intelligent people was straightforward and efficient.

Mingxi and Regina thus completed a crucial transaction for them in the hotel suite's restroom!

“When?”

“Tonight.”

Mingxi’s eyes widened, her expression disbelieving: “Are you sure? The group stage starts the day after tomorrow. Can you guarantee that Emerald Green and I can find the throne you need in two days?”

“Your Excellency, it’s not that I want to make things difficult for you, but I am constantly monitored by Claudius’s lackeys.

Even though the substitute can take my place, because of Lulu Xiu, who is the Vice Commander of my Light Patrol Royal Knight Order, he is Claudius’s man. This person is not only shrewd and perceptive, but more importantly, he has also contracted a Golden-Eyed Ratila that possesses the Eye of Truth.”

Mingxi’s brow furrowed slightly.

Golden-Eyed Ratila, a Steel-type Transcendent creature, with the racial talent and characteristic 【Eye of Truth】. Its function is somewhat similar to Golden Yuanbao’s Heavenly Eye, but the Heavenly Eye can be activated anytime, anywhere.

However, the Golden-Eyed Ratila’s 【Eye of Truth】 has limitations; it can only be used during a fixed time slot each day.

Moreover, the fixed time for each Golden-Eyed Ratila varies, showing individual differences.

Therefore, this characteristic is relatively useless.

“Lulu Xiu’s Golden-Eyed Ratila activates its Eye of Truth daily from 6 PM to 8 PM, so the substitute and I must return to our respective positions before that time slot.”

Mingxi frowned: “Then how do you ensure that the substitute can perfectly impersonate you for the next two days?”

Regina continued: “Because for the next three days, ‘I’ will represent the Augus Royal Family and travel to Anji Country to participate in their Inos Heavenly Bath.

Your Excellency should have heard of Anji Country’s Inos Festival; the Heavenly Bath ceremony only allows women to enter, and they need to stay in the sacred pool for three days and three nights.

At that time, Lulu Xiu and his Golden-Eyed Ratila will naturally be unable to contact ‘me.’ As long as the substitute and I successfully complete the exchange before leaving the sacred pool, we can avoid their surveillance for three days.”

Inos, innocence.

Meaning pure, innocent, blameless.

The Inos Festival, to put it plainly, is actually a festival of oppression against women in Anji Country. The various traditions of the festival are full of absurdity, outrageousness, and malice, being very typical remnants and dregs of feudal hegemony and patriarchy.

But it must be said, Regina knew how to utilize it.

“This opportunity is truly too rare. If I give up this one, I don’t know when I will find a more suitable time.”

This was also the main reason Regina was eager to confirm Mingxi’s intentions.

Two days to explore an unknown and dangerous Mystic Ground and find the target object.

It must be said, it was a very severe challenge.

However, considering Regina’s situation, Mingxi ultimately agreed.

Two days it is.

All in all, it just boils down to—facing life and death with indifference, and if you're not convinced, just do it!